Ecclesiastes 2:12 - The Scriptures 1998

¹² And I turned myself to look at wisdom, and madness, and folly. For what would the man do who comes after the sovereign except what already has been done?

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹² And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² So I turned to consider [human] wisdom and madness and folly; for what can the man do who succeeds the king? Nothing but what has been done already.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been done long ago.

Common English Bible

¹² My reflections then turned to wisdom, madness, and folly. What can the king’s heir do but what has already been done?

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹² I continued on, so as to contemplate wisdom, as well as error and foolishness. "What is man," I said, "that he would be able to follow his Maker, the King?"

Ecclesiastes 2:12 Cross References

Ecclesiastes 1:17

And I set my heart to know wisdom – and to know madness and folly. I know that this too is feeding on wind.

Ecclesiastes 3:15

Whatever is has already been, and what shall be has been before. But Elohim seeks out what has been pursued.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

I have turned round, even my heart, to know and to search, and to seek out wisdom and a conclusion, to know the wrongness of folly, even of foolishness and madness.